wildfire

Maui Preparatory Academy science and math teacher Gabby Suzik during a math class on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.At the academy, which at one point had taken in 150 public school students, Suzik said she checks in often with her Lahainaluna High students who lost their homes. Suzik lost the home she and her husband bought last year on Lahaina’s Front Street. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Parents unsure whether to send kids back as schools near Maui burn zone reopen

Schools just blocks away from piles of potentially dangerous ash, but officials say air is safe

 

A checkpoint set up by the Hawaii National Guard is pictured on Kaniau Road, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Kaniau Road of Zone 1C will be the first zone to be cleared for residents to reenter, starting Monday, Sep. 25, following Maui’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Lahaina residents begin returning to sites of homes destroyed by deadly wildfire

Some Lahaina residents returned to their devastated properties Monday for the first…

 

Falco Kuester, right, a researcher at ALERTCalifornia, a program run by the University of California San Diego, looks at live feeds from some of the program’s cameras alongside analyst Scott McAvoy, left, and communications manager Caitlin Scully, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in San Diego. California’s main firefighting agency, Cal Fire, in July started trying out an artificial intelligence system that looks for smoke from more than 1,000 mountaintop cameras feeds. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The threat of wildfires is rising. So are new AI solutions to fight them

Mountain top cameras and satellites can warn of abnormalities in smoke

 

The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, August 18, 2023. Canadian insurers are grappling with higher risk of wildfires amid a record-breaking season, and experts say rising premiums are just one part of how the industry is seeking to adapt to an ever-changing new normal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

More West Kelowna residents heading home as evacuation order downgraded to alert

The change is for the Tallus Ridge, Shannon Woods Drive and Rainbow Road areas

The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, August 18, 2023. Canadian insurers are grappling with higher risk of wildfires amid a record-breaking season, and experts say rising premiums are just one part of how the industry is seeking to adapt to an ever-changing new normal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)

Evacuation order lifted for some Westbank First Nation properties

Properties on Lindley Drive and Lindley Road have been downgraded to an alert

BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)
The Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country started Aug. 18, 2023 (Contributed)

UPDATE: No change in size of McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna

‘People must remember, the fire is being held, the fire is not out,’ Lake Country’s mayor cautioned

The Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country started Aug. 18, 2023 (Contributed)
Evacuation orders have been downgraded in the Shuswap Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2023. (CSRD photo)

Evacuation order lifted for more Shuswap areas

Residents can now make their way home, but are still under an evacuation alert

Evacuation orders have been downgraded in the Shuswap Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2023. (CSRD photo)
The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to the McDougall Creek wildfire in the Central Okanagan Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (BC Wildfire photo)

BC Wildfire conducting aerial ignition on McDougall Creek wildfire

Crews are working to strengthen control lines in the northern portion of the McDougall Creek wildfire

The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to the McDougall Creek wildfire in the Central Okanagan Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (BC Wildfire photo)
The Walroy Lake wildfire sits at 794 hectares going into Wednesday, Aug. 23 and continues to display low fire activity. (Mark Rogers/Facebook)

Feelings of elation as Walroy Lake wildfire held, Kelowna evacuees to return home

Residents can visit cordemergency.ca for the latest updates to evacuation orders

The Walroy Lake wildfire sits at 794 hectares going into Wednesday, Aug. 23 and continues to display low fire activity. (Mark Rogers/Facebook)
A total of 90 properties have been partially or fully damaged by the McDougall Creek wildfire in the North Westside, fire chief Ross Kotscherofski said in a media conference Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Sharon Smith/Facebook)

90 properties damaged by wildfire in North Westside

Fire chief says rain, cooler temperatures have made firefighting easier

A total of 90 properties have been partially or fully damaged by the McDougall Creek wildfire in the North Westside, fire chief Ross Kotscherofski said in a media conference Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Sharon Smith/Facebook)
RCMP officers meet at a roadblock after evacuating the Wilden neighbourhood near Knox Mountain due to a wildfire burning above homes, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Kelowna RCMP stop duo who forced their way behind fire line

‘To ensure we can provide an appropriate and coordinated regional response to this fire’

RCMP officers meet at a roadblock after evacuating the Wilden neighbourhood near Knox Mountain due to a wildfire burning above homes, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Joanne Zebroff captured this image of the Kelowna wildfire in Clifton/McKinley on Aug. 18, 2023. (Facebook)

Community leaders urge calm and patience as crews battle Okanagan wildfires

‘We have been here before, and we got through it together’

Joanne Zebroff captured this image of the Kelowna wildfire in Clifton/McKinley on Aug. 18, 2023. (Facebook)
The fire on Mount Con Reid, first reported on Aug. 6, has now grown to 395 hectares. Photo from B.C. Wildfire Service.

2 largest fires continue to burn within Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island

Mount Con Reid and North River fires each exceed 100 hectares

The fire on Mount Con Reid, first reported on Aug. 6, has now grown to 395 hectares. Photo from B.C. Wildfire Service.
An evacuation order has been issued for the Celista area in the North Shuswap up to Evans Road Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (CSRD photo)

Evacuation order expanded in North Shuswap community

The Celista area up to Evans Road is under an evacuation order due to Lower East Adams Lake wildfire

An evacuation order has been issued for the Celista area in the North Shuswap up to Evans Road Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (CSRD photo)
The BC SPCA is offering support to pet owners who are dealing with the threat of wildfires. (BC SPCA photo)

BC SPCA taking in pets of wildfire evacuees, deploying more staff in Thompson-Okanagan

BC SPCA has 24 animals in their care with more requests coming in

The BC SPCA is offering support to pet owners who are dealing with the threat of wildfires. (BC SPCA photo)
Kelowna General Hospital. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)

Kelowna hospital on Code Orange alert due to evacuations

Evacuees from West Kelowna, Kelowna seniors homes sheltering at hospital

Kelowna General Hospital. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)
A number of properties on Rawson Road as well as the northern reach of Tsútswecw Park are under an evacuation due to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Shuswap Emergency Program photo)

Evacuation order issued for Adams Lake properties in Shuswap

Ferry service closed except for evacuees, emergency services

A number of properties on Rawson Road as well as the northern reach of Tsútswecw Park are under an evacuation due to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Shuswap Emergency Program photo)
Kelowna Fire Department has called in mutual aid from seven surrounding departments to help battle a wildfire in the Clifton/McKinley area. (Jaqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Wildfire burns out of control in Kelowna more evacuations issued

Several evacuation orders have been issued including Quail Ridge and Finch Road

Kelowna Fire Department has called in mutual aid from seven surrounding departments to help battle a wildfire in the Clifton/McKinley area. (Jaqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
WestJet says it’s adjusting prices and adding capacity to help with evacuation efforts from Yellowknife. A WestJet plane waits at a gate at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet, Air Canada adjust prices and schedules amid Yellowknife evacuation

Airlines taking steps to avoid elevated prices, adding extra flights and swapping in bigger planes

WestJet says it’s adjusting prices and adding capacity to help with evacuation efforts from Yellowknife. A WestJet plane waits at a gate at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Evacuation alerts currently in place for Lee Creek and Scotch Creek could be upgraded to evacuation orders due to windy conditions Thursday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2023. (CSRD photo)

Evacuation orders loom in Shuswap as heavy winds could increase wildfire activity

CSRD urging those on evacuation alert from the Adams Lake wildfire to be prepared to leave

Evacuation alerts currently in place for Lee Creek and Scotch Creek could be upgraded to evacuation orders due to windy conditions Thursday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2023. (CSRD photo)